Chennai will soon have an integrated command and control centre, covering 24 civic agencies such as Chennai Corporation, Metrowater, Meteorological Department and the Police.
Speaking at a brainstorming session organised ahead of the commissioning of the centre under Smart City Mission, Corporation Commissioner D.Karthikeyan said the centre is estimated at ₹180 crore.
“Integration is the key. The design of the system will be similar to that of 911 helpline implemented in the United States. We are implementing 10 themes based on brainstorming sessions,” said Mr.Karthikeyan.
On one platform
Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department Secretary Harmander Singh said the command and control centre will improve effective delivery of services. “More than ₹1,500 crore worth projects will be taken up. So far each department has been holding on to data thinking that it is their own property. But hereafter, departments have to open up and share information, sit on the same platform and decide commonly for the welfare of the citizens, be it disaster, traffic management or road cutting. It will be a coordinated effort so that one department does not become a roadblock for another department,” said Mr.Singh.
Municipal Administration Minister S.P. Velumani said the State government would continue to promote initiatives on various Smart City Projects.
Metrowater Managing Director V.Arun Roy pointed to the lack of infrastructure to measure the quantity of water supplied to each of the wards in the city. “Measurement is a challenge. The city should get its measurement infrastructure ready,” he explained. “We need to be conscious about maintenance of the command and control infrastructure. It is costlier to maintain than to instal. Weather conditions are extreme in the country. Sustainability of the solutions is very important.”
Pointing to the possibility of interdepartmental coordination, Mr.Roy said the centre should accumulate data to facilitate such coordination under smart city projects. More than 50 officials, including IAS and IPS officials, participated in the brainstorming sessions on 10 themes including disaster management, surveillance, public mobility, water, health and sanitation, energy, environment, governance, GIS based services and connectivity.
City surveillance system
The city surveillance system is expected to cover 100 locations with 400 fixed box camera, 100 PTZ camera, and facial recognition system. A solid waste management system covering 50 locations is also expected to be commissioned at a pan-city level. A transport management system with GPS module for city bus in addition to a bus operation and management solution will also be implemented, officials said.
Published - August 08, 2017 12:42 am IST
